Hydraulically operated clutch



Feb. 13, 1940. 4 c. E. GEISER 2,190,542

HYDRAULICALLY QPERATED CLUTCH Filed July 25, 1936 2 SheefQs-Sheet 1INVENTOR.

Charlie E. 6612s er Feb. 13, 1940. c 55555 2,190,542

HYDRAULICALLY OPERATED CLUTCH Filed July 25, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Fig.4

Charlie E Geisez' INVENTOR.

Patented Feb; 13, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFECE I v I 2,190,542 ,HYRAULICALLY OPERATED CLUTCH Charlie E. Geiser, Wichita Falls, Tex.

Application July 25, 1936 Serial No. 92,681-

6 Claims.

' The present invention provides a clutch adapted to be operated byfluid pressure, preferably liquid, in which the mechanism isself-contained and mounted onthe clutch, thereby materially simplifyingthe construction and obviating the necessity of pipe connections, jointsand a great number of parts.

The invention is directed to a clutch of the means, all mounted upon asupporting rotating drive member in compact arrangement for economy ofconstruction, few parts and convenience and dependability of operation.

The invention also provides a pressure relief valve that makes: itpossible to set a maximum operating pressure on the motor. The inventionfurther provides a pump plunger that is utilized for the dual purpose ofclosing passages and as a piston of the pump.

While the drawings illustrate a preferred embodiment of the invention,it is to be understood that in adapting the same to meet specific needsv, and requirements, the design may be varied and changes in the minordetails of construction may be resorted to within the scope of theinvention as claimed, without departing from. the spirit thereof. p l

For a full understanding of the invention and the merits thereof,reference is to be had to the following description and the drawingshereto attached, in which: T

Figure l is a sectional detail, view on the line i-! of Figure 2. 3

Figure 2 is an elevation of a clutch illustrative of an embodiment ofthe invention, parts being in section and parts being broken away.

Figure 3 is ahorizontal sectional, view on the line 33 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a sectional detail view on the line 4-4 of Figure 5. I

Figure 5 is an enlarged section of the pump and hydraulic motor on theline 5-5 of Figure 4.

Corresponding and like parts are referred to i the following descriptionand designated in otherwise fastened thereto as at 42, and a drivenmember 23 provided with apulley24. The member 5 functions as a supportfor the pump and hydraulic motor which are mounted thereon.'

The friction band 22 and operating mechanism are likewise mounted on themember 6, these r0- exert an outward pull on said arms.

.and is free to move on the shaft l2.

tate at all times when connected to a source of 29; as shown mostclearly in Figure 1. Links l8 pivotally connect the arms 19. Springs 39connect the arms is with the part 6 and normally The inner ends of thelinks H] are pivotally connected to the outer end of the plunger 11 ofthe hydraulic motor.' The friction band 22 coacts with the member 23which constitutes a friction drum. Set screws M provide uniformadjustment of the friction band, as will be readily appreciated.

A base 31, bolted to the member 5, supports the pump and motor. A'casing1 is mounted on the base 31' and houses cylinder' lb in which is fittedthe plunger IT; A pump cylinder 8 is attached to the casing 1 andreceives a plunger 9, the lower portion 912 of which is square andoperates in an opening 31a in the base.

lower end of the cylinder 8 and a pin 38 passing through the plungernormally tending to hold the plungerprojected. The pin 38 also servesas. a stop to engage the base 3'! and limit the The ends A spring 27 ismounted on the pump plunger between the projection of the plunger 9. Anopening l3 connects the pump cylinder with the casing l and chamber Taformed in said casing around the cylinder lb. A pipe 14a connects anopening M An opening connects thepassage 30 with the chamber la and acheck valve 3 1 permits excess pressure to escape through said opening35. The valve 34 is held seated by spring pressure which is regulable bymeans of set screw 36.,

An eccentric H is loose upon the drive shaft l2 and is shiftable thereonby means of a forked arm 25 pivoted at 4| to a suitable frame Ma. A lug25a is attachedto the eccentric I! and is pivoted at 45 to a telescopingconnection 26 which is pivoted at l0 to the frame Ma. In this manner,the eccentric l! is prevented from turning The projecting end 91) of theplunger 8 is provided with a roller Ml to engage and ride on theeccentric Hand with a projection 33 which has an inclined face tofacilitate engagement of the eccentric with the roller l0 when shiftingthe eccentric into engaging position. The confronting portions of theroller HI and eccentric H are inclined, or tapered, as indicated at laand Ila, to facilitate their riding into engagement.

In assembling the unit for use, the reservoir la is partially fillednearly full with liquid, such as oil, leaving a slight air space in thetop thereof. When the eccentric II is clear of the roller ii) the piston9 is in the position, shown in Figure 5, and opens port 3!; the clutchis then released or free. When the eccentric II is shifted to engage theroller It which is carried by the rotating drive member 6, the piston 9is moved thereby to the position shown in Fig. 4; then the pump andmotor revolve about the eccentric H with the result that the pumpplunger 9 has a reciprocatory' movement imparted thereto from a pointjust below the port 13 to a point spaced below the top of the cylinder 8above the port l3. On the out stroke of the cylinder with the pump,liquid is drawn by suction into the cylinder 8 from the storage chamber1a through the opening l3, as is most clearly shown in Figure 4. On thein stroke plunger 9 closes opening it and the liquid is forced from thecylinder 8 through the opening !4, past check valve l5 in the pipe Ma,passage 3B and opening 29, into the cylinder lb. This moves the plungerl1 outward to break the links outwardly, as shown by the dotted lines inFigure 2, to set the clutch to cause the parts 6, 23 and E2 to rotate in,unison. The working stroke of the plunger I! is very short, wherebyonly a small amount of liquid will be withdrawn from the reservoir 1aand a slightvacuum will be created therein. The piston 9 is forcedinward by a spring 21, and in so doing, a partial vacuum is created incylinder 8 and upon the uncovering of port l3 the cylinder will bepartially filled with liquid drawn from reservoir Ia, as the suction incylinder 8 will be greater than in reservoir la.

In the operation of the device, the liquid is thrown toward the outerperiphery of the rim by" centrifugal force. Therefore, the liquid thatenters the cylinder 8 is thrown into the upper portion of the cylinderand is exhausted by the stroke of the piston 9. However, in operation,all of the air will not be expelled from this cylinder and some air willremain therein which will expand sufliciently under the tension of thespring 2! to permit the piston 9 to return to its lowermost position. Itis an advantage to have a slight vacuum in the reservoir 1a, as it willaccelerate the return of the plunger ll when the port 3| is opened topermit the return of fluid to the reservoir. The plunger i1 is shown indotted lines in Fig. 2 in an exaggerated position to amplify theoperation of the clutch arms. Upon shifting the eccentric H to clear theroller ill, the spring 2! moves the plunger 9 inwardly of the clutch andreleases the clutch through the action of the springs 36, causing theplunger I! to move inward, the liquid passing from cylinder 1b throughopening l, thence from cylinder 8 through opening 53 into the storagechamber Ia.

Having thus described the invention, what I engage a the clutch.

2. In combination with a friction clutch and mounted thereon, ahydraulic unit comprising a motor, a pump mounted upon said motor, aneccentric held against rotation to actuate said pump, said eccentricbeing tapered substantially in conical shape, and means to slide theeccentric into out of engagement with said pump.

3. In combination with a friction clutch and mounted thereon, ahydraulic unit comprising a motor, a pump mounted upon said motor, aneccentric to actuate said pump, a telescoping pivoted arm to permitlateral movement of the eccentric and to hold the eccentric againstrotation, and means to slide the eccentric into and out cf engagementwith said pump.

4. in combination with a friction clutch and mounted thereon, ahydraulic unit comprising a motor, pump mounted on said motor, a pair oflevers connected to said motor to actuate a iricticn band, an eccentricto actuate said pump, means to slide the eccentric into and out ofengagement with said pump, and a telescoping pivoted arm to hold theeccentric against rotation and to permit lateral movement thereof.

5. In a clutch of the character specified, the combination with coactingclutch members, of a hydraulic motor mounted on the clutch, a pumpconnected with the motor and movable therewith, a non-rotatableeccentric for operating the pump mounted in line with the axis of theclutch,

and means for moving the eccentric toward and away from the plane of theclutch to throw the into and out of action. 1

6. In a clutch actuating means, the combination of a hydraulic cylinder,a plunger therein,

a pump cylinder, 2. plunger in the pump cylinder, a liquid storagechamber having connection

